Swami Arundhati Saraswati - Program in Chennai

Satyananda Yoga Education Charitable Trust had the rare opportunity of convening a week long series of programs by a very senior Swami of Bihar School of Yoga tradition.

Here are some photos of the program

https://picasaweb.google.com/jeyagopal.muthu/YogaEducationInSchools02#

What is Education?

Education is not the amassing of information and its purpose is not mere career hunting.

It is a means of developing a fully integrated personality and enabling one to grow effectively into the likeness of the ideal that one has set before oneself.

Education is a drawing out from within of the highest and best qualities inherent in the individual. It is training in the art of living.

Sri Swami Sivananda Saraswati

Education is not injecting knowledge or information from outside. It is creating an atmosphere in which you will be able to express the knowledge which is already in you.

Education must be designed so that it can serve two purposes. Firstly to enlighten the intellect, to purify the emotions and to improve the quality of social awareness, and secondly to awaken and express the inner knowledge.

—Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati

Suicide in School going children!

The Problem of MEMORY!

On one of the days when I was on my usual visit to a CBSE school in Chennai, where we teach yoga; a mother approached me and said to me that she was finding her son having severe gastric trouble, indigestion, disinterest to eat & she was very concerned about the condition of her son.

The boy is studying in +2 & has to do extremely well in his exams to find a berth in a good course in any college for a under graduate program. The tension was mounting on the boy & wanted to find if there can be some kind of a solution from YOGA.

Now what is the actual problem with this student?

YOGIC WISDOM

"A solution can be arrived at only if you have the ability to view the truth of a condition without judgement; instead with the readiness to accept the truth."

I had a detailed discussion with the boy. I encouraged him to look at why he was becoming anxious. He was quick to spot the cause. One of the subjects (Business Studies) was demanding according to him because he had to memorize a lot of theory & reproduce it for the exam.

He said to me "It is not possible for me to remember so much theory" - This was his belief about himself. He was ready to apply his intelligence, work hard, think, understand, analyze, reason, compare, conclude & was ready to do lot more.

In fact he was one among the best performers of the school. Already he is getting above 95% marks in almost all the subjects. However he has created a mental block that he cannot memorize so much.

Several research activities have been directed towards ascertaining accurately the memory capacity of the brain. One can browse through lot of information available in the web as well as the books on brain & memory. Enough research has been done on this and facts have been established about the brain & its capacity.

Current estimates of brain capacity range from 1 to 1000 terabytes! "Robert Birge

(Syracuse University) who studies the storage of data in proteins, estimated in 1996 that the

memory capacity of the brain was between one and ten terabytes, with a most likely value of

3 terabytes...... to read more visit the link given below:

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=525801

Given the fact that the brain has such a vast space for memory which is limitless; WHY DO PEOPLE SUFFER FROM FORGETFULNESS, MEMORY LOSS? Why do we have the problem of memory?

Among many factors that contribute to difficulties in memorizing, stress & mental blocks play a key role, As in the case of this student.

YOGIC WISDOM

"A student can be encouraged to; and taught to impartially & non judgmentally look at the mental blocks that he/she has created about a particular subject, or a particular action"

For example a student may be very comfortable in completing an experiment successfully, however may believe that he/she cannot give a small speech about it to an audience or write a descriptive note on the stepwise approach to successfully complete the experiment. This can be viewed as an inability or limitation by others, but to help the student overcome the limitation, the student should get the opportunity to impartially & non judgmentally look at the mental blocks that he/she has created about a particular subject, or a particular action.

Like the student whom I am discussing about here. He was believing clearly that "HE CANNOT MEMORIZE SO MUCH THEORY".

We were able to clearly observe that he has etched a mental block .Business studies was not a problem, getting marks was not a problem, however SO MUCH THEORY was the thing to be impartially & non judgmentally observed. This mental block that I do not want to memorize so much theory was the main cause of the anxiety.

Thinking that one is finding a solution, one can worsen the confusion by taking, so many unuseful & wrong approaches as a course of action to change the condition prevailing, for example,

• Now the boy can be treated for gastritis! Gastritis can come down temporarily but the anxiety in the mind will only continue. It will only get aggravated with precipitation of the mental block becoming stronger.
• Can be advised to focus on studying.
• Can be explained about the consequence of not preforming well.
• Can be admitted to a hospital for treatment.

there may be many more inappropriate actions taken by parents, teachers, school, peers. These will lead to further distancing from the truth & any possible solution. It can worsen the condition by creating depression, dejection, fear, suicidal tendencies & much more.

Luckily for this student he was connected to a yogic tradition.

What is the solution that YOGA provides?

Asanas, Pranayama, Pratyahara practices of yoga give several tools that help one to combat the weakness. They also allow one to effect a necessary change & sow the seeds of change at the rock bottom of the mind.

Yoga has a complete view & understanding of the human personality. The practices of yoga can positively affect all these layers and bring about welcome changes.

Attitudes & Postures

It has been understood from the study of body language that the posture of body is affected by a state of mind & vice versa. For example a person with a low self esteem usually has a stooping shoulder. Similarly several observations have been made about the connection between emotional states and their corresponding effects on the posture of the body.

It will be very interesting to note that people who have difficulty in bending forward have been found to be arrogant and stubborn people. Also people who are unable to bend back ward or able to raise their chest up are the ones who have low self esteem.

The practice of Chua Ka derives from the Mongolian samurai warriors of 2000 years ago who claimed that bodies hold the memories of every physical pain they have experienced. After each of their battles they ritualistically massaged themselves with pieces of ivory that went deep into the musculature to release accumulated during the fight. This practice was based on the connections between particular fears and body parts.The point that I am making here is that there have been established observations about body & mind interconnectedness.

Yoga Postures - Asanas; as they are famously known are a boon to humanity from the yogic Rishis.

Generally the asanas are broadly classified into the following categories.

(Courtesy sunandmoonstudio.com)

Forward Bending asanas

Backward Bending asanas

Sideways Bending asanas

Spinal Twisting asanas

Inverted asanas

Asanas have specific influence on the physical body.

• Asanas stretch muscles
• Strengthen muscle & bone linkages
• Improves blood circulation by pushing out impure blood & giving space for oxygenated blood to flow thoroughly into every bit of the physical body
• Massages the internal organs and promotes proper function of these organs
• Balances the endocrinal secretions

When one engages in regular practice of asanas, One can be sure that the health of the physical body is at its best.

However the benefits do not stop with this; the energy channels within the framework of the pranic body are also cleared of the energy blocks. These energy blocks correspond to states of mind caused by traumatic as well as other type of experiences of life.

Reasearch on Yoga Education in Schools

Satyananda Yoga Centre has started a research on the effects of yoga on children of classes 10th & 12th in schools in Chennai affiliated to the CBSE.

How it Began!

The mother of a child from DAV school visited me at my office & explained that her child had difficulty in attention and was also hyper active. She suggested that she would speak to the Principal of the school & arrange for a meeting.

In 2006, I had a couple of meetings with Smt.Lalitha Chandrasekharan, Principal of the School. We decided on the program for the school. She suggested I also meet the Head Mistress of the School, Smt.Jayashree Pillai.

I knew Smt.Jayashree Pillai, I was her student in the same school, one among the notorious students she had hard time to deal with. When I walked into her cabin, she was shocked to see me there. However when I explained that I had been requested by the school to conduct yoga classes, she was taken by surprise.

Smt.Jayashree Pillai took a long time to recover from her surprise. She was keen to know how I got into yoga; she was of course completely convinced that Yoga had the power to transform people; after seeing me as I am now.

Now she decided to personally choose children from the 4th & 5th classes, all the boys who were having difficulty in being attentive, who were always causing some trouble or the other - My kind of lot. She asked me to work with them & it was great fun working with them.

In the Yoga class for boys of 4th & 5th, in the first few sessions these boys were bringing sweat out of the yoga teachers from our centre. However as days passed; one day when Smt.Jayashree Pillai was on her inspection rounds in the school, she crossed over the hall where we were conducting a yoga session for the 4th & 5th boys. She could not believe the silence & the harmony that had filled into the space.

The resourcefulness of a yoga teacher was playing its tunes in the class. The boys were participating in all the activities with joy & willingness. It gave them a lot of hope & at the end of the year DAV school decided that they will continue yoga over the next years.

During the next year 2007-2008 we conducted classes for children of 10th & +2 for those who opted. In 4th to 9th all children who opted for it attended classes. The year passed with the understanding that yoga is something that has to be given as part of the schooling activities.

The Principal, teachers and even Shri.Jayadev, Founder Secretary of the group of schools was keen to introduce it into the school every year.

From 2007 onwards the school decided to make yoga as a part of all the children of the 10th & +2 classes. We introduced a log book to all the students and involved their parents, teachers and Principal in validating the correctness of the entries.

We could see some clear direction in the improvement of the performance of the children.

You can see in the statistical analysis of the school - Science group; The percentage of children who were able to score above 95% has moved to 30% instead of 5% & the children getting between 90% to 94% came down to about 25 % & there was no who scored less than 80%.

• Performance of more than 50% of children who were at 90 to 94% had improved
• Performance of all children who were getting above 60% moved to more than 80%

Conclusion

We had to conclude that with the introduction of yoga into the school there was a defenite change in the ability, personality of children. We also realized that they had become more confident than ever before.

Scientific Study

We decided that we will do a scientific research amongst children of 10th & +2 of CBSE schools in Chennai.

The criteria for observation was

1. Intelligence
2. Memory
3. Stress
4. Self Confidence
5. Menarche

One round of collection of data and interpretation & scoring of data has been completed so far. We will be completing the second round of collecting data during the end of this academic year. The actual details of the research will be shared with the educationists in India.

The following link shows some of the photographs of the events, activities and initiatives.

1.) http://picasaweb.google.co.in/sycchennai/SwamiNiranjanSVisitToDAVSchoolChennai?authkey=Gv1sRgCKC9j8Oc366w_QE#

2.) http://picasaweb.google.co.in/sycchennai/DiscoveryOfHumanPotential?authkey=Gv1sRgCMD9qsnN1ebOkQE#

3.)http://picasaweb.google.co.in/sycchennai/ChildrenYogaFestival?authkey=Gv1sRgCO7yq_OJr7GAMg#

Symposium Postponed!

Since Swami Niranjananda Saraswati is preoccupied with major events comming up at this time of the year in Rikhia ashram & Ganga Darshan we have been informed that the Symposium can be conducted on a later date & is deferred for the time being.

We will inform everyone concerned about this once we have news to share.

Om Tat Sat

Agenda of the Symposium

Symposium on “Yoga Education in Schools” will be conducted by
Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati.

The symposium will feature

o Lectures
o Practice of Asanas & Pranayama
o Meditation and relaxation practices
o Demonstrations
o Question answer session

It would be a rare opportunity for students and teachers of Chennai schools to listen to Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati and directly practice under his guidance.
Lectures

The lectures will revolve around

Need for Yoga education

Development of the hidden
potentials through Yoga
(Creativity, Concentration,
memory, courage and such
qualities)

The efficacy of the practices
The yogic method of self
transformation

Role of yoga teachers

Approach to yoga education
in schools

Research work happening in
this field all over the world
And much more……….

Asana & Pranayama

• The practice sessions will include
  simple asanas & breathing practices
  that children will enjoy learning and
  cherish practicing every day.
• Asanas and pranayama will be
  Demonstrated so that students and
  teachers can learn the proper method
  of practicing them.
• The asanas and pranayama suitable for
  students, which will work on their
  entire personality will be demonstrated

Meditation & Relaxation

During the meditation sessions students and teachers will get opportunity to take part in guided relaxation and guided meditation session that will be conducted by Swamiji himself.

Symposium on "Yoga Education In Schools", By Bihar School of Yoga

Educationist's Committee
Chairman
Shri.Jaidevji
Secretary
D.A.V. Group of Schools
Chennai

Members
Shri.E.P.G.Nambiar
Secretary General
Chinmaya Heritage Centre
Chennai

Shri.M.A.Selvaraj
Correspondent
Sir M.CT.Muthiah Group of Schools, Chennai

Shri.K.Rajmohan
Correspondent
M.A.Krishnaswamy Group of Schools, Chennai

Principals Committee

Smt.Lalitha Chandrasekharan
DAV Girls Sr Sec School, Gopalapuram

Smt.Lalitha Thiagarajan
DAV Boys Sr Sec School
Mogappair

Smt.M.P.Geetha
DAV Girls Sr Sec School
Mogappair

Shri.J.Ajeeth Prasath Jain
Bhavan’s Rajaji Vidyashram, Kilpauk

Smt.V.Gowri Lakshmi
Chinmaya Vidyalaya Secondary School, Anna Nagar

Shri.Sathiamoorthy.C
Chinmaya Vidyalaya
Kilpauk

Shri.S.Adhiappan
M.F.S.D. Hr Sec School
Sowcarpet

Dr.N.Saraswathi
The Children Garden Hr Sec School
Mylapore

Smt.Nirmala Sundaram
Reserve Bank Staff Quarters School
Besant Nagar

M.Varadarajan
G.S.S.Jain Vidyalaya
Vepery

Smt.P.V.Subba Lakshmi

Agarwal Vidyalaya

Vepery

Satyananda Yoga Education Charitable Trust (SYECT) in coordination with some of the schools in Chennai is organizing a grand Symposium on “Yoga Education in Schools”. The first announcement, dated 9th March, about the symposium, was sent to your school in March. The symposium will be conducted in three different venues in Chennai.

We cordially invite your school to participate in this unique event that will open new horizons in the field of education. The venue details are given below.

Date & Venue

20/08/2009 (Thursday)
9.00 am to 11.30 am

D.A.V Boys Sr Sec School
120 feet road, Mogappair,
Chennai – 600 050

21/08/2009 (Friday)
9.00 am to 11.30 am
(TO be finalized)

22/08/2009 (Sunday)
9.00 am to 11.30 am

Sir MCTM Higher Secondary School
23, Raja Annamalai Road, Purasaiwakkam, Chennai 84

We have decided to extend a special invitation to the schools in Chennai to actively participate in the symposium. You can send 10 children from your school along with one teacher. We have planned to provide opportunity to schools on first come first basis.

Education implies that the whole being should be educated. It should not merely be pumping students full of book knowledge which just floats on the surface of their intellects as oil floats on the surface of water.

People will have to be aware of their thought patterns, their opinions, their ideas and their emotions. This kind of education will not come by force because that would only be borrowed knowledge, not experience.

This real education has to be brought about from within, and one of the ways to accomplish this unfoldment is through YOGA

- Swami Satyananda Saraswati

Satyananda Yoga™ as it is popularly known all over the world; is a system of yoga developed by Swami Satyananda. In India & several countries Satyananda Yoga™ has been very effectively integrated into the school as part of the process of education. Several research projects conducted over the last decade have gone to prove that introduction of yoga to a child can help the child to develop their personality comprehensively.

Effects of Yoga on

The Mental aspect

• Improves concentration & memory
• Awakens & balances both hemispheres of brain
• Whole mind is clarified & refined

The Emotional aspect

• Makes one emotionally strong
• Positively influences behavior
• Vital & mental energy is balanced

The Physical Aspect

• Facilitates proper functioning of all organs & systems
• Promotes health
• Improves immune functionImproves stamina

The Creative Aspect

• Creativity dawns
• Intuition is awakened
• Improves imaginative thinking
• Higher mental functions manifest

A close study of the processes reveals that the Yoga tradition cannot be confined to only the physical or postural; it enters into a deeper engagement and exploration of the psychological and emotional domains.

If understood in its totality, Yoga can lead to valuable insights and be of great help in laying the foundation for lending a meaningful life.

CreativeExtensive research on intelligence shows that for too long our education has favored linguistic and mathematical intelligences, and most IQ tests are based on these aspects.

IN the Yoga tradition most of these intelligences are addressed and developed. There are several schools of Yoga, which though different in approach, have similar underlying assumptions

• Body and mind are connected; the health of one affects the other.
• Regular practices in the form of asana as well as relaxation are recommended for their revitalizing and tranquilizing effects on the system.
• Discipline starts at the level of the body soon moves to the mental aspects. The overall effect is an increase in the effectiveness of the individual in whatever she/he undertakes.
• Balance is important in all one does, neither indulgence nor deprivation.
• Development of healthy attitudes such as cleanliness and contentment.
• Psycho – mental work, through introspective and various meditative methods, with an aim of bringing about clarity of understanding and self awareness.
• Harmony with self, others and nature.

Symposium on Yoga Education in Schools by Bihar School of Yoga - Aug 2009

Yoga & Child

Child is God; We gradually contaminate them to become stunted adults with complexes & phobias.

Yoga is a great activity & opportunity for children to explore themselves and about life.

The conditionings of environment a child is born and lives in; can nurture or suffocate the genius in the child. When a child receives inputs of yoga in the tender years then the formation of the individuals self identity is correct.

Yoga for the child is a great nourishment. It has a complete understanding of the body, mind, the power that supports both. It goes further & has a deep insight into the subtler layers of existense.
Yoga looks at the whole existence in five progressively subtler layers. They are called in Yoga as "PANCHA KOSA".

Asana practices directly influnce the physical & vital layers of ones personality and indirectly influence the mental personality (Mano Maya Kosa).

Pranayama directly influences the vital personality (Prana Maya Kosa) & indirectly influences mano maya kosa.

Pratyahara direcly influences the mano maya kosa.

In Kathopanishad our body is compared to a chariot, we can take a car for a modern chariot. If a car has a very attractive & stylish body, painted spotlessly & decorated lavishly. How would it look like. Great! woudn't it?

But; let's say there is no engine or let's say there is no steering. What use will it be of? It is meaningless to have a handsome or cute looking appearance without any presence of mind or intelligence or vice versa.

"Contemporary methods of education allow parents to give all the necessary comforts of life to their children, but what they get in return is, at best a, degree holder and egoist, a beautiful polished but undisciplined animal"

-Swami Vibhooti Saraswati

There is a rush of insecurity amongst parents that their children should be successful in life. It is completely justified to feel like that, but due to a specific expectation from the child, there is a lot of tension and pressure created in the child's personality.

Instead of helping the child to look at within & know themselves, to discover their potentials, parents and our society thrusts forcefully certain type of knowledge and certain type of attitude, which can be totally opposite to the nature of the child.

Yoga works like a mirror. What will you do when you see your image in the mirror. In the first place you will look at your reflection & enjoy the beauty; wont you? Then you will see your appearance and if anything needs adjustment or correction, you will simply do the needful correction. It is as simple as that.

Yoga allows a child to know the strengths, weaknesses, attitudes, beliefs, patterns, the body, everything about themselves. It gives them very handy & powerful tools for self transformation.

In my opinion, a system of education which does not provide an opportunity for self understanding and self transformation is incomplete.

Yoga is such a great tradition, Satyananda Yoga Centre upholds this great tradition and will be more than willing to take all possible efforts to reach out to the children.

In this blog we can see a lot about Yoga for children. You are welcome to ask any questions relating to this topic and we will try to give you our response as early as possible in the form of an article.

Hari Om Tat Sat